Matthews and Cummings, on the Future of Maryland's Democratic Party

Today on Midday, a conversation about the status and future of Maryland's Democratic Party, with two stalwarts now vying for the party's top leadership position.

Maryland Democrats strengthened their majority in the General Assembly in this year’s midterm election. They also kept the Baltimore County Executive seat and picked up seats in Howard and Anne Arundel Counties. But Republican Governor Larry Hogan won a decisive reelection over Democratic challenger Ben Jealous. In the wake of those midterms, the Democratic State Central Committee will elect the next State Party Chair on Saturday.

Incumbent Kathleen Matthews and Maya Rockeymoore Cummings are vying to become Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party.

Credit Photos courtesy Kathleen Matthews/Maya Cummings

Incumbent Kathleen Matthews worked in communications for the Marriott Hotel Corporation after more than two decades as an award-winning television journalist in Washington, D.C. She ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2016 and was elected interim State Democratic Party Chair in May 2017.

Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings is the founder, president and CEO of the consulting firm, Global Policy Solutions. She has worked for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the National Urban League. She served on Capitol Hill as Chief of Staff for Congressman Charles Rangel of New York and as a Democratic staffer on the House Ways and Means Committee. She has been married since 2008 to Maryland's 8th District Congressman, Elijah Cummings.

Both candidates join Tom in the studio to discuss their plans to lead to the Democratic Party in Maryland.

The conversation was live-streamed on WYPR's Facebook page; due to technical difficulties, the feed begins at about 8 minutes into the program. You can watch the video here. Complete audio of the program can heard by clicking on the playback bar (above).